Hydraulic power transmission apparatus



March 13,1945 P. M. SALERNI 2,371,589

HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1939 7 Sheets -Sheet 1 mvsnrok PlERD HHRIHNO spLERm BY: Wmzmmm PTI'ORH KS I March 13, 1945. P. M. SALERNI 2,371,589

HYD RAULI C POWER TRANSMI S ION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1939 7 s eets-shed 2 III/I/Zl' A VIIIII/Illlll 4 FTTORIY XS March 13, 1945. p L R v 2,371,589

HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet? mvsnrofly HERO MRRIR SRLERHI' I mama-v:

March 13, 1945. f R I 2,371,589-

HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSIO APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1959 '1 Sheets-Sheet 5 firrmdevs Mrcli 13, 1945. P. MQSALERNI HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6' Filed Aug. 12, 1939 Hllll III ' 7 "am/smok- HERO mnmnno sALERm w Mo d-f manners March 13, 1945. P. M. :SALERNII 2,371,589

HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS Filed Au 12, 1939 v 'r-sneets-sheet 7 PIERO MnRmno s afi' avg/0m,

. Patented M31213,- 1945 UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION.

' APPARATUS Piero Mariano Salerni, Cox Green, Berkshire, (llliggland vested in the Alien Property Custon Application August 12, 1939, Serial No. 289,763

' In Great Britain August 20, 1938' Claims. (01. 60-54) 1 This invention relates to hydraulic power transmission apparatus of the kind in which a rotary impeller or driving member having ducts between vanes drives by means of a liquid circulating in a closed circuit a turbine or driven the impeller) is or can be substantially greater' than that imparted to the. impeller whereby transmission of power may be effected byhydraulic means at a torque ratio substantiallygreater than the ratio of 1 to 1 independently of any mechanical changespeed gearing.

The object of the invention is to provide a transmitter of the kind referred to-above, having certain features which, by their design and cooperation afiord a stable or streamline flow throughout the liquid circuit, the various elements'of the transmitter, that is, the pump or impeller, the turbine and the reaction member, a'l co-operating to ensure that the effect of the liquid 'making for steadiness of flow in or through any one of the elements is not impaired by the liquid meeting or passing through either of the other elements, so that in this manner turbulence or eddyi'ng is largely reduced thus avoiding losses due to turbulence and: eddying,

with the result that the efliciency of the transmitter is substantially increased. a

In its real character the improved transmission apparatus hereof .is adapted to serve as a complete drive, as for an automobile, such as can and does afiord torque increase from impeller .to turbine under'certain drive conditions, wherein the reaction means or reactor functions im-,

portantly; thus under reduced speed driving conditions the driven torque effectively exceeds the driving torque, with maximum driven torque at starting'or zero speed, andwith the needed igh driven torque at low speed to overcome high load conditions, such as uphill; these characterizations distinguishing the transmitter hereof;

from a mere hydraulic coupling such as has been proposed in various forms. This application is a. continuation in partof applicant's prior ap-- plications Serial Numbers 200,136, filed April:5,

1938, Patent Number 2,293,765, August 25, 1%12, and 221,812',-fi1ed July 28, 1938, Patent'Number 2,293,766, August 25, 1942, and 231,869, filed September'27, 1938, Patent Number-2,293,767,

August 25, 1942.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which show certain preferred embodiments of the invention;

Figure 1 is a cross-section 'of an embodiment of the invention through the axis of'rotation which shows the liquid circuit.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are cross-sections of a duct on the lines A-A, B-B, (3-0, and D- respectively of Figure 1'=.

Figure 6 shows the cross-sectional areas of the duct sections of Figures 2, 3,4 and 5 superimposed.

Figure 7 is a development of a vane on the line X-Y of Figurel.

Figure 8 is a development of one duct on the I line X Y of Figure 1. V Figures 9, 19, 11, 12 and 13 show the cross-sectional area of a duct on the lines d-'-d, ,c-- c, b-b,

11-41 and e-e of Figure '8 which correspond to. the lihes- DD, C-C, B-B, A-A, and the out-.

let, respectively, of Figure-1.

Figure 14 shows thecross-sectional areas of the duct sectionsof Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 superimposed.

Figure 15 is a development of a vane having a bulbous memberasan extension at the inlet.

Figure 16 is a development of a duct between the two vanes as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a" development in one plane of a turbine made according to this invention.

Figure 17a' is a variant of the arrangemen shown in Figure 17. v v

view'of parts of the impeller and of the turbine seen from a direction Figure'18 is a perspective at right angles to the axis of, rotation) Figure 19 is a perspective view of another .par

of the turbine seenfrom a directionparallel to the axis.

Figure 20 is a bodiment of the invention through'the axis of rotation which showsthe liquid circuit.

Figure 21 is a part section view, part perspective view on the line B--B of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is.a similar view to that shown m- Figure 21 but on theliheA-A of Flgure 20. It

will be noted that the views of Figures 21 and 22 overlap.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of'the reaction 1 cross-section of a further emmember looking down on the top of Figure 20,

parts being broken away to show the vanes.

Figure 24 shows a modification of Figure 20.

According tothis'invention there is providedv a hydraulic power transmission apparatus of the kind specified in which the impeller has at least a substantial part of its ducts non-divergent and such non-divergence extends up to or nearly up to the outlet of the impeller and in which the turbine has bulbous members. Bybulbo'us members are meant members which present to theimpinging fluid bulbous heads so constructed as to reduce the eddying or turbulence due to the impinging of the fluid; from the various directions that occur in practice,-upon the inlet ends;

Preferably the bulbous members Y of the vanes. are constructed and disposed so as to provide convergent passages between them so as to reduce thereof can be superimposed upon every normal cross-section thereof which is more remote than itself from the outlet without overlapping the same. The greater the length of any non-divergent part of each duct the higher will be the efiiciency and the length of such part must be substantial, i. e. it must be sufliciently long so as to increase the efliciency of the apparatus to a substantial extent. Such an increase in efficiency is caused by the reduction, due to nondivergence, in the eddying and turbulence of the liquid passing through and emerging from such non-divergent part. In this aspect of the invention, a non-divergent part of the impeller extends up to the outlet or nearly up to the outlet 1. e.

impingement thereon of the'fluid from the various directions which will occur in practice and also so as to provide convergent passages between adjacent members further to reduce any-eddying and turbulence in, the fluid passing between them.

Preferably the impeller has its outlet in the outer half of the circuit and the ducts of the impeller are made non-divergent from a point at or near the inlet up to the outlet. Preferably throughout such length. The cross-sectional area may be made to decrease in the case of a tetragonal duct either by causing both pairs of opposite walls to converge or by keeping one pair parallel and causing the other pair to converge. If the liquid used has a high viscosity, e. g. as in the case of common engine lubricating oil, if one pair of pposite walls has a convergence of 5 while the other pair remains parallel, a substantial advantage is obtained. Up to a limit (which is at least 15) the greater the degree of convergence the better will be the result.

The construction of the apparatus itself imposes limits to the possible amount by which the cross-sectional area can be reduced towards the outlet of the impeller. Thus the outlet must not be unduly constricted as otherwise the liquid will not be able to circulate sufficiently freely to transmitpower efliciently. Moreover, the permissible largeness of the inlet of the impeller is limited by considerations of the design of the circuit, since there must not be inordinatediscrepancies in size between the dimensions of the channel through which the liquid is delivered to the.impeller and the inlet of the impeller.

In the preferred construction the ducts have their outlets at the part ofthe circuit furthest m away from the axis of rotation, so that the liquid so near to the outlet that the liquid emerging from the impeller is less turbulent by reason of such non-divergence than it would otherwise be. A further'increase in efliciency is caused by the turbine having at the inlets of its ducts bulb ous members so constructed and disposedas to reduce eddying and turbulence. If the length of such non-divergent partand the decrease in its cross-sectional area throughout its length is sufficient, then the liquid emerging from the impeller will have astable flow i. e. it will be free from eddying-and turbulence or sufiiciently free notsubstantially to reduceeflicien'cy, .even under conditions where the apparatus is transmitting at ratios of greater than 1 to 1 and with at least i 25% of the maximum power whichthe engine is designed to give' under ordinary conditions.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a hydraulic power transmission apparatus of the kind specified in which the ducts of theimpeller are co tructed soas to have at least a part thereof n n-diverg'ent and so that the fluid emerging therefrom has a stable-flow under the conditions specifledabove, and in which the turbine has at the inlets of its ductsv bulbous members- I According to further features of the invention the impeller and also the reaction member have at the inlets of their ducts bulbous members constructed and disposed soas to reduce eddying and turbulence.

bers are constructed and disposed so'as both to Preferably all or the aforesaid bulbous memr issueswtherefrom in a direction having no radial component. In the preferred construction the I ducts extend throughout practically the full radial dimension of the circuit and are curved also 5 towards the inlet. The radius of the outside curve preferably at'no point exceeds about twice the radiusof the inner curve as otherwise there might be a tendency to eddying and turbulence from this cause, This requirement also, therefore, imposes a limit on the permissible largeness of the inlet.

The reduction of cross-sectional area towards the outlet is preferably as great as possible consistent with the above considerations. Of the non-divergent part of each duct that portion which lies nearer the inlet is preferably made non-divergent by progressively thickening neously progressively reduced and preferably this is accomplished by causing the inner and. outer a duct becomes merged gradually with those issu;

1 ing from the adjoining ducts 'withoutobiection- Lable eddying or turbulencal-In'crder to achieve this the thicknessof the vanes must be progressively decreased towards the outlet. This can be the cross-sectional area is progressively reduced Preferably the cross-sectional area is simulta- 2,871,589 I a a 3 accomplished, while maintaining non-divergence, purpose of transmission by thismethod, it is deby turning the vanes as they approach the outlet. The tum should be backwards relative to thedirection of rotation. Preferablythis backwards turn takes place only in that portion of each duct of the impeller which lies nearer to the outlet and preferably in the outer half of the It will be understood that the extent to which the vanes are turned backwards must not be so great that power is no longer efficiently transmitted (the optimum angle to which the vanes are turned relative to the direction of rotation usually lies between and 60) and therefore if the vanes are turnedbackwardlymuch before they approach the out-- let of the ducts, since the thickness of thevanes can only be got rid of without divergence by further backward turning, the opportunity for so doing is correspondingly reduced.- 1

It is preferred that the turbine should have ducts which have a backward curvature in a part commencing at or 'near their inlets (i. e. are

curved so as to deflect the liquid as it flows through this part ina direction'having a com ponent relative to the turbine opposite to the direction of rotation of the impeller) and thereafter have a general curvature opposite to such first mentioned curvature.

Preferably the whole of this backward curvature should take place as near as practicable to the inlet of the turbine.

the inlet of the turbine is approximately parallel to a plane containing the axis of rotation and the direction of which'at the end of the backwardly curved part remote from such inlet is at an angle of about 60 to such a plane is satisfactory. It will be obvious that the part of the duct curved in this manner must be of sufficient length to enable the liquid to be turned backwards effec- 7 tively without narrowing the ducts excessively.

From the point at which the backwards: curvature terminates up to or nearly up to the outlet, the duct has a general curvature in a direction opposite to the said backwards curvature, i. e. this latter part of the duct, regarded as a whole,

is oppositely curved. Preferably the whole of this latter part is oppositely curved, and'preferably the curvature is smooth and such as to conform to'what would be the natural-path of the flow of the liquid after leaving the backwardly curved part, when the turbine is stationary, if the liquid were unrestrained by vanes in this part of the turbine, i. e. if thepart of the vanes forming this part of the ducts were not there; wh ch statement will be clear by considering upon Fig. 1 that the liquid in the complete set of streams niust'flnd its way to the inner outlets where they 1 deliver to the reactor member, and the streams therefore constrain each other to take a curved inward path, with which the illustrated ducts subthe turbine is stationary, i. e. before it-dias begun to move angularly, the reaction due to the deflection of the l uid backwards; as it It hasbeen found in practice thata duct the direction of which at sirable that the inlet and outlet of the ducts formed between the vanes shall be separated by as great a radial distance as practicable. ducts must accordingly extend-throughout a substantial radial height and preferably throughout almost the full radial height of the circuit, as

shown.

The ducts may be formed between vanes which are continuous from the inlet of the turbine to preceded by one or more sets of auxiliary ducts (also formed between fixed vanes) which are backwardly curved and which are separated from the said ducts and from each other by spaces adapted to receive reaction vanes.

A reaction member has reaction vanes so constructed andarranged at such an angle to the direction of the liquid impinging upon them that under certain conditions of operation (e. g. when the turbine is stationary, and it is desired to produce an increased torque for the purpose of startin'g) these impart to the liquid a component of velocity in a forwards direction (i. e. the same direction as the direction of rotationof the impeller) Under such conditions the reaction vanes are operative and tend to be driven by the liquid in a backwards direction and must be restrained against "such tendency in order to defiect the liquid in a forwards direction. It is preferable that the ducts of the impeller, turbine and reaction member and the bulbous members should be so constructed that the fluid has a stable flow throughout the circuit under the conditions specified.

As the turbine begins to rotate and the difference between the speeds of the turbine and of the impeller is reduced thistendency decreases and In order to reduce this loss of efficiency, it is' preferable that the reaction member should be capable of rotation in a forwards direction, and should be so constructed thatrit, or if it has more than one reaction element then at least one such flows through the backwardly curved parts of the 'ducts, tends to rotate the turbine. I When the turbine rotates, power is transmitted also by the liquid being forced from the periphcry of the turbine towards the axis. For the Rather of which follows a set of turbine vanes in the circuit. If sets of reaction vanes, when element, should have the radial distance from the axis of rotation of the middle points of the inlets between its vanes slightly greater than the radial distance from such axis of the middle points of the corresponding outlets.

In order to provide a large starting torque and also the possibility of obtaining a torque ratio considerably greater than 1 to 1 over a wide range of speeds, it has been found necessary to employ at least two reaction elements, each having a set of reaction vanes, one of which precedes and the The,

. the members 9 and I0.-

rectlon at a substantially different speed from that of the turbine, the efliciency will beseriously impaired.

- rotation relatively to each other and of which at least one is such that the radial distance, from the ,axis of rotation, of the middle points of-the inlets between its vanes is slightly greater than the radial-distance from such axis of the middle points ofthe corresponding 0ut1ets. j

The said difference of radial distance must be slight, i. e. such that when the reaction vanes are rotating in a forwards direction the difference between the speed at which the liquid drives or tends to drive'the said reaction vanes and the speed of the turbine is less than it would be if radial distances from the axis of rotation of the middle points of the said inlets and outlets were the sam. Preferably the said difference of radial distances is such that when the apparatus is transmitting the maximum available power under such conditions that said reaction vanes ro- 2,871,589 we they become inoperative, rotate in a forwards dithickness of the vane may be progressively reduced while the'duct remains non-divergent as shown in Figure 8. In the embodiment illustrated, in the-latter part of each duct, i. e. from-- the-line a-a (Figure 8) to, the outlet, the sides of the duct constituted by the vanes converge (the backwards turn being sufficient for this purpose) of duct as seen'in Fig. 1.

The vanes are progressively rounded, as shown at l5 (Figure 4), l6 (Figure 3) and I1 (Figure 2) in order that the duct which is tetragonal at theinlet and the outlet may not have sharp corners throughout-the greater part of its length. This accounts for. the D-shaped cross section of the outlet shown injigure 13 on the line e-e'of Fig- .ure 8. One side of the outlet is constituted by a part of a vane which is some distance-from the tip andis still somewhat rounded, while the other side is constituted by the tip' of a vanewhicli tate in a forward 'direction they are driven or. tend to be driven in a forwards direction by the Preferably each reaction element is constructed as aforesaid.

has there ceased to be rounded.

The radius of curvature of the part 9 should not be more than about twice the radius of curvature of the part I'll.

In order to avoid or decrease losses due to shock 7 at the inlet the latter is preferably disposed at as little a distance as possible from the discharge outlet of the member through which the'liquid has passedpreviouslyto entering the impeller. Bulbous members l9 (Figures '7, 8, -15and 16). are placed at or near the inlet in fixed relation to the vanes of the impeller being as shown so con- In Figure 1, is the impeller, 2 is the turbine and 3 is the reaction'member. peller I is rotated by any prime mover, liquid flows therein by centrifugal action from the inlet 4 thereof to the outlet 5 thereof whence it is discharged into the inlet 6 of the turbine through which it flows in a radially inwards direction im' impeller are formed by the members 9 and I0:

- peller is at a maximum. The thickness of the vanes is thereafter progressively increased as.

shown in Figures 4, 3 and 2 so as to maintain the walls of the ducts formed by the vanes H and 2 non-divergent, notwithstanding that the vanes are extending radially outwards from the axis of rotation. The walls a and III are progressively brought closer together to reduce the cross-sectional area, the height of the vanes being accord--.

When the imthus providing a convergentpassage which will ingly reduced. Figure 6 shows the successive cross-sections of theduct'superlmposedan'd it will be seen that the side walls remain the same distance apart while the top and bottom walls are converging. The vanes have been thickened as shown in Figure 7 from the point l3 at the'in'- let to the point H corresponding to the lineA-A of Figure 1..

Thereafter from the point H, the vane is of the fluid from the various directions which will occur in practice. Thesemembers also rapidly constrictthe space' through which the liquid must passbefore entering the inlet, 1. e. from 20 to 2|,

further reduce eddying and turbulence. Thereafter a gradualexpansion of such space takes place up to the inlet, which must, aspointed out previously, be relatively large in order topermit a progressive reduction. of cross-sectional area throughout each duct of the impeller from the inlet dto the outlet 5. Although the said gradual expansion up to the inlet tends to reduce some eddying and turbulence, the total amount thereof .is smaller than that which would result, fromshock in the absence of the members I9 andof .the initial constriction caused by the bulbous ends.

shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Referring to Figure 17-21,26, 21 indicate one of the ed vanes having a bulbous head 2| near the inle of the duct 23 which will operate in a similar manner to that described above .with ref erence to the bulbous members at the inlet of the impeller. 24 is the outlet of the duct 23, which .outlet is situated nearer the axis 28 ofthe turbine than the inlet.- 25, 25 are short fixed vanes placed between the bulbous heads 2|, 2| of the full length vanes, which vanes are of similar shape to the part 2| of the full length vanes 2|, 26, 21. In the part 22 of the duct 23 which part is near vtheinlet (and in the embodiment shown is divided into two by the vanes 2-5, 25). the duct is curved backwards, the direction ofrotation being shown .16 where the members is are formed as integral extensions of the vanes, but they maybe ofiset as by the arrow 1'. The change of direction imparted to the liquid in the part 22 is the angle be;- tween the lines a: and 11 which in the example shown is about 60. Thereafter the duct is oppositely curved in such a manner as to conform to what would be the direction of flow of the liquid in-this part of the turbine before. the turcetween the series 3|, 3| and the series 32, 32

is sufiiciently small to avoid undue shock.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be observed that 'the ducts of the turbine 2 extend throughout almost the full radial height of the circuit.

Referring to Figures 18 and 19, 40'is the outer casing of the apparatus, 4|, 4| are the delivery ends of the vanes of the impeller, and 42, 42 and 43 are vanes of the turbine. In the embodiment shown in these figures the vanes 42 extend from the inlet of the turbine to the outlet, while the vanes 42 are somewhat shorter but otherwise similar. The vanes43 are still shorter. 44, 44 are the ducts which are formed between the full length vanes 42' and subdivided by the part length vanes 42, which ducts by reason of the curvature of these vanes are backwardly curved near the inlet and thereafter oppositely curved up to the outlet. The short vanes 43 are similar to the vanes 25 of Figure 17 and the vanes 42 and 2 to the vanes 2| of Figure 1'7.

Referring to Figure 20, which shows a modifi cation, i is the impeller, the construction of which is the same as in Figures 1-16, but the turbine now consists of two parts 2, i! and the reaction member 3 also of two parts 3a and 3b,. the part 3a of the reaction member being inserted between the parts 2, 2 of the turbine whilst the other part 3b is located between the outlet of the turbine and the inlet of the impeller. Referring to Figures 21 and 22, Figure 21 shows the vanes of the turbine part 2 (Figure 2D) and Figure 22 shows the inlet ends of these vanes as-well as a set of vanes 56 on the turbine part 2. 50, c are vanes which extend from the inlet to the outlet of the turbine part 2 and which are shaped to form between them the ducts 52 which are backwardly curved near the inlet and thereafter oppositely curved as in the previous construction. 5| indicate short vanes similar to the vanes 25 in Figure 17. As shown in Figure 22, the turbine has a set of auxiliary ducts 55,'formed between the auxiliary vanes, 56, preferably integral with the turbine part 2, which ducts 55 and vanes 56 precede the main ducts 52 and vanes 50 that extend throughout almost the full radial height of the circuit. The ducts 55 and the vanes 5670f the auxiliary set are backwardly curvedand are situated at a part of the circuit most remote from. the axis. The reaction due to the backwards curvature of theauxiliary set of ducts assists to rotate the turbine. (Figure 20) of the reaction member winter- 50, Si and these reaction vanes are so curved as to deflect the flow of the liquid forwardly, i. e. to the same direction as the direction of rotation The vanes of thepart 311 and consequently the backwards curvature of the part near the-inlet of the ducts 52 operates as before to tend to rotate the turbine, notwithstanding the presence of the preceding set of 5 backwardly curved auxiliary ducts 55. 'One or I more additional preceding sets of ducts and vanes can be similarly added,withreaction members between each set, to increase the starting effort if this is desired. I

Referring to Figure 20, the liquid enters between the turbine vanes 2 by the inlets 2a and leaves by the outlets 2b, the turbine vanesbeing so disposed that, as the liquid flows through, the turbine tends to rotate forwardly and the direction of flow of the liquid is turned backwardly. Y The liquid then enters between the reaction vanes 3a by the inlets 64, the reaction vanes (as shown at 60, 60, Figure'23) being so disposed as to change the direction of flow of the liquid again to a forwards direction. The direction of rotation of the impeller is shown by the arrow 62, Figure 23. The reaction elements when operative are prevented from rotation in a backwards direction by any suitable means (not shown) The liquid leaves the reaction vanes 3a by the outlets 65 and enters between the turbine vanes 2 by the inlets 2c, and, leaves by the outlets 2d and enters between the reaction vanes 3b (also shown at 6|, 6| Figure.23) by the inlets 66 and leaves by the outlets fiL'whence it passes into the inr lets 68 of the impeller I.

operate in a manner similar to that of the turbine and reaction vanes 2 and 30. respectively.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated,

the radial distance of the middle points of the inlets 54, 66 from the axis of rotation, indicated by EC, is slightly greater than that of the middle points of the corresponding outlets 65, 51 respectively.- e

The difierence in .the radial distance from the said axis of the middle points of the inlets it and G6 and of the corresponding outlets and 67, respectively, preferably is such that, when the t0 apparatus is transmitting'the maximum available I power under such conditions that said reaction vanes rotate in a forward direction they are driven or tend to be driven by the liquid in a forwards direction substantially at the same speed 9 of rotation as the turbine, This feature may be elucidated as follows, its utilitypertaining particularly to conditionswhen driving under high power and at full speed or unit ratio, or substantially so. With an ordinary 6B reactor, for example as shown in applicant's prior Patents Nos. 2,122,353 of- June 28, 1938 and 2,173,428 of Septemberv 19, 1,939, while the liquid issuing from the turbine, at high speed unit ratio,

delivers a forward drive to the reactor, still the o0 reactor turns at a considerably lower speed than the turbine. Due to the'curvature of the reactor vanes, away from radial planes, the reactor has a strong tendency to lag, in the toroidal flow,

' and this reduced reactor speed is found to 'in- 65 terfere with the cooperation and flowpbetween turbine and impeller, with loss of efliciency. The described novel feature in the present'invention or' the middle or mean points thereof. Thus by the structure shown in Fig. 1 there is afforded a reactorrotaryspeed substantially the sameas 5 that of the impeller and turbine. so that-at unit The turbine vanes 2 and the reaction vanes 3b tends-to ofiset the reduced-speed tendency of the 70 t0 e arrangementof the reactor duct entrancesposed in the space 51 between the auxihary setof turbine vanes 56 and the main turbine vanes necticn between engine and vehicle wheels, the full speed rotation of the reactor avoiding any .interferencewith the flow 9f the liquid across from the turbine to the impeller. Under these conditions the reactor performs in effect like an inemcient turbine, developing enough. power to insure its own rotation at a speed substantially equalling that of the impeller and turbine. The 10 may neutralize the lag tendency, and give a speed substantially equal to the turbine speed, as the reactor, under these unit-ratio conditions, swims idly through the toroidal fiow.

m the embodiment illustrated in Figure 24 thereaction element 3 is rotatably mounted in such a manner that it can rotate in a forwards direction independently of the reaction element ,8

' but is prevented by the ratchet and pawl device 63 from relative rotation in a backwards direction.

The reaction element} is prevented from rota- 25 tion in a backwards direction relative to the fixed casing by any suitable means (not shown), v The vanes of theireaction member. are formed with bulbous members at the inlets as indicated for example in Figure 1 and in Figure 23 of the so accompanying drawings which will operate ina similar manner to those described with reference to the bulbous members at the inlet of the im-' peller.

The arrangement of the vanes'and the relative sizes of the various parts shown in the figureshave been found in practice to be satisfactory in the application of the invention to an automobile. What I-claim and desire" to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hydraulic power transmitter ofthe kind which constitutes per se a drive apparatus that is adapted to give torque increase under; reduced and zero speed conditions, the same having an 1 impeller member, a turbine member and a reactor member, each' comprising duct-forming walls orvanes and each rotatable about the com- -mon axis, with a liquid mass. confined to fiow around a closed toroidal circuit first outwardly ratio all three turn in substantial unison, sub- 'stantially the equivalent of a positive drive con-- radius of the circuit; and characterized as to the reactor that it is mounted for forward but against backward rotation and that its walls are of form to define ducts the inlet mean points of which are at a slightly greater radius than its outlet mean points; whereby the liquid travels with high stability and freedom from turbulence throughout its complete toroidal circuit while the successive rotary members mutually cooperate therein for the delivery of emcient torque thrust from impeller to turbine at various speed and torque ratios.

2. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kind whichconstitute's per se a drive apparatus that is adapted to give torque increase under reduced and zero speed conditions, the same having an impeller member, a turbine member and a reactor member, each comprising duct-forming walls or vanes and each rotatable about the common axis, wit h a liquid mass confined to flow around a closed toroidal circuit first outwardly with respect tothe rotation axis through the impeller ducts and thence by discharge a an annular stream with axial component, toward the turbine ducts and inwardly through the turbine ducts with final turbine discharge to enter reactor ducts and therefrom back into the impeller ducts; characterized as to the impeller that its walls are of form to define ducts each of which is free of divergence substantially from inlet to outlet, and the outer portions of such ducts being curved progressively away from a radial plane tov an angle to cause adjacent ducts toapproach of the issuing streams; and characterized as to the turbine that it has walls that are=-of form to define inwardly extending ducts each of which in development, from its inlet near the major radius of the circuit, has a curvature extending so, to the turbine outlet near the minor radius of the circuit; and characterized as to ,the reactor that it is mounted for forward but against backward rotation and that its walls are of form to define ducts adapted to control interfiow from the tur- 5 bine back to the impeller; and characterizedfurther in that at least one of said members, impeller, turbine and reactor, is provided at its duct inlets with a series of bulbous formations or enlargement defining converging inflow paswith respect to the rotation axis-through the ims ges between them leading into the inlets and peller ducts and thence by discharge as an an- 'nularlstreamt with axial component toward the turbine ducts, and inwardly through the turbine ducts with final turbine discharge to enter rehas a sectional shape both'dimensions of which,

asjat every precedin Point, and the outer portions of such ducts being curved progressively away from a radial plane to an angle to cause adjacent i ducts to approach and merge at their outlets for smooth confluence of the issuing stream; and

characterized as to the turbine that it has walls that are of form to defineinwardly extending ducts eachof which in developmeniu'from its inlet near the major radius of the circuit, has a two tending to restrict eddying of liquid; whereby the liquid travels with-high stability and freedom from turbulence throughout its complete toroidal circuit while the successive rotary members mutually c'o-operate therein for the delivery of at various speed and torque ratios.

3. A transmitter as in claim 2 set forth and wherein each of the members, impeller and turbetween each pair of walls, are at least as short bine and reactor has such bulbous inlet enlargements, for minimum turbulence throughout the toroidal circuit. 4. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kind which constitutes per se a drive apparatus that is adapted to give torque increase under reduced and-zero speed conditions, the same having an impeller member, ,a turbine member and a reactormemb'efi, each comprising duct-forming walls or vanes and each rotatable about the part curve of the character of a long-s curve, 7 common axis, with a liquid mass confined to the first part of such curve being backcurved away from a radial 'plane in. a direction opposite to the forward rotation ofthe impellen: and its second part being of curvature in the reverse sense flow around a closed toroidal circuit first outwardly with respect to the rotation axis through the impeller ducts and thence by discharg as an annular stream with axial component toward extending. to the turbine outlet near the minor the turbine ducts and inwardly through the tutand merge at their outlets for smooth confluence eificient torque thrust from impeller to turbine 2,871,589 bine duets with final turbine discharge to enter reactor ducts and therefrom back into the impeller ducts; characterized as to the impeller that its walls are of form to define duets each of which is free of divergence substantially from inlet to outlet, and 'the oute'r portions of such ducts being curved progressively away from a radial plane to an angle to cause adjacent ducts radius of the circuit, has a two-part curve of which the first part is backcurved away from a radial plane in a direction opposite to the forward rotation of the impeller, and the second part is of curvature in the reverse sense extending to the turbine outlet near the minor radius of the circuit; and characterized as to the re-. actor that it is formed with a main and an auxiliary unit mounted for forward but against backward rotation and that said auxiliary unit occupies the space between the sections of the turbine and that the walls of the main reactor unit are of form to define ducts the inlet mean points of which are at a slightly greater ra'dius than its outlet mean points; whereby the liquid travels with high stability and freedom from turbulence throughout its complete'toroidal circuit while the successive .-rotary members mutually cooperate therein for the delivery of eflicient torque thrust from impeller to turbine at various speed and torque ratios.

, 5. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kind which constitute per se a drive apparatus that is adapted to give torque increase under reduced and zero speed conditions, the same having an impeller member, a turbine member and a reactor member, each comprising duct-forming walls or vanes and each rotatable about the common axis, with a liquid mass confined to flow around a closed toroidal circuit first outwardly with respect to the rotation axis through the impeller ducts and thence by discharge as an annular stream with axial component toward the turbine ducts and inwardly through the turbine ducts with final turbine discharge to enter reactor ducts and therefrom back into the impeller ducts; characterized as to the impeller that its walls are of form to define ducts each of ,which is free of divergence substantially from inlet to outlet, and the outer portions of such ducts being curved progressively away from a radial plane to an angle to cause adjacent ducts to approach and merge at their outlets for smooth confluence of the issuing streams; and charac-' terized as,to the turbine that it is interrupted with a first section spaced from a second section, and the latter ha walls that are of form to define inwardly extending ducts each of which in development, from its inlet near the major radius of the circuit, has a two-part curve of which the firstv part is backcurved away from a radial plane in a direction opposite to the forward rotation of the impeller, and the second part is of curvature in the reverse sense extending t the turbine outlet near the minor radius of the circuit; and characterized as to the reactor that it comprises a main reactor unit mounted for forward but against backward rotation and an auxiliary unit which occupies the turbine space .and is mounted for forward rotation relatively to the main unit; whereby the liquid travels with high stability and freedom from turbulence throughout its complete toroidal circuit while the successive rotary members mutually cooperate therein for the delivery of eflicient torque thrust from impeller to turbine at various speed and torque ratios.

PIERO MARIANO 

